“Gay is Good”: Gay and Lesbian Organizing in DC, 1961-1975

"Gay is Good": DC-based gay rights activist Dr. Franklin Kameny coined this slogan in the 1960s to convince gay people of their dignity and self-worth. As co-founder and leader of the Mattachine Society of Washington, Kameny played a role in dismantling anti-gay federal policies, including those that barred homosexuals from federal employment. Kameny and his fellow activists also challenged the American Psychiatric Association for pathologizing homosexuality. This exhibit explores gay and lesbian organizing in DC, 1961-1975, in its historical and political context.

Credits

The text is closely based on Philip Clark’s lecture to FBI employees on June 9, 2015 and was adapted for this online exhibit by Sarah Welz Geselowitz.